The Blue Norther

Some blizzards come without warning, and with such ferocity that little can survive. In Texas, they call these storms Blue Northers. The Blue Norther is a weather phenomenon common to large areas of the world where warm, humid weather is the norm. One of its distinguishing features is its sudden, drastic temperature change. The storms generally hit in November, February, or March. The day is unseasonably warm, then suddenly the air is freezing with extreme blizzard conditions bringing clarity to the term "cold snap." When the blizzard passes, there is a period of bright blue skies with much cooler daily temperatures. The term Blue Norther originated in Texas. According to The Texas Handbook Online, the name could derive from the deep blue appearance of the storm's leading edge as it moves across the land.